Nest structure



Oct. 16, 1928.

C. M. SHILLIAM .NEST STRUCTURE Filed June 4, 1927 1 INVENTOR CMrls I BY Minoan:

I UNITED STATE-IS CHARLES M. SHILLIAM, or SPOKANE-WASHINGTON.

NEST STRUCTURE.

Application filed June 4,

The object of this invention is toprovide an improved nest structure which is especiaLv ly adapted for use in connection with commercial production of hens eggs.

The invention involves a tiltable nest box and a gravity opening door associated in a novel manner so that thedoor will descend into an open position and form a runway on which the bird can walk to and from the nest.

A further feature resides in a novel structure whereby the door is automatically closed when the bird enters the nest box and ismaintained closed as long as the weight of the bird is imposed on said box. V

A further object is the provisionof a perch on said nest box that is located in such a novel relation with respect to the point of fulcrum of the box that whenever the bird restsits weight on said perch either in entering or leaving the nest box, the latter will be tilted into a position to permitthe gravity controlled door toopenn A further feature consists in means which may be so, adjusted as to act automatically to lock the nest box in a descended position and thereby hold the. door closed. whenever itis desired to use the-structure for trap nesting purposes. Y i

Theinvention has many other objects and features which will be more fully described .in connection with the accompanying drawing and whichwill be more particularly pointed out in and by the appended claims.

In the drawing 5 I Fig. 1, is a vertical longitudinal sectional' view of my improved nest structure showing the same in an adjustment for ingress or egress of the bird. Fig. 2. is asimilar view showingthe parts in'the adjustmentwhereinthe bird is on the nest and the door is closed and held closed.

Fig; 3. isa horizontal sectional'view on line of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4, is a rear vi structure. n v

5. is an enlarged sectional view on'line 5- 50fliig.1.v r

. Like characters of reference designate similar parts throughout the different figures of the drawing. T I

I have embodied my invention in a l nockdown structure which ispreferably of sheet metal although I do not'wish to be limited thereto in all forms of the invention.v As shown,;the' structure includes a rigid sheet;

ew of 'a portion ofthe 1927. Seria1 No.. 196 609 metal base having front and rear portions 1 and 2 and side portions 3, only one side portion being herein shown. The base includes cross members 4 and the former having an upward projection 6, adapted to form a stop.

. and the latter having an upward projection 7, adaptcdto form a fulcrum, as will pres-. ently appear. i will be suitably secured to the side portions 3, to stifli'enthe base. the latter being open for vent lating and sanitary purposes. The upper edge portions of the base may be provided with wall supporting meanswhich mavconsist of oppositely bent lugs 8 and 9 between V which the upright walls of the structnremay sea 1 The stru base consists of uprightfront and rear walls 10 and 11, respectively and side walls 12 and 13.11 have shown one means for detachably Said cross members 4 and 5 1 cture which is mount-ed on said connecting the ,sideand end walls in Fig. 5.

' the side walls having bent ortions crimped tothe form shown at 14 to 17 Therear wall has its vertical edge bent as indicated at 18. Thus, it will be clear that when the walls are respectively shifted into corneren'gagement. they will be held in such engagement, it being understood that a structure of this char acter neednot be rigid. Thus, as all the walls are equipped with the same means shown'in Fig; 5, they need not be described in detail. 'It may be stated that this means of fastening avoids pins, screws and like'fastening means.

The rear wall 11, is provided with'what I will term a trap nest door 19, which may be hinged at 20. and which'may have any suitable fastening means. This door is preferably-of such size that the box nest, to belater described. can be withdrawn through such door when the latter is opened. Likewisa it is ofgsuflicient size'to withdraw the bird therethrough. I have provided the j structure with a roof 2].. which may have downwardly extending flanges 22' adapted to extend overthe walls 1.0 to 13. and in this connection, it may be stated that the corner fastening means fshown in Fig. 5, may be shortened to. afiord freedom for the flanges Thus. it will be seen that the structure, as far as the housing is concerned, is clearly knock-down, and may be taken apart readily tor cleaning or shipping. The fact that the housing is ofmetahaflords the usual pro tectionagainst the usual pests.

I have shown a nest box having a bottom 23,

of any form of open or foraininated material,

to as 7, and on the bottom of the nest box I.

have shown an inverted V-shaped guide 30, fixed thereto, to retain the nest box in ful- "cruined relation to part 7. The line of fulcrum is so'disposed that the greater weight of the nest box structure is to the right of the fulcrum, viewing Fig. 2. Thus, the nest .box

, would normaly seek the position shown in said figure. It will alsobe noted that the perch 27 is slightly to the left of the line of fulcrum so that when the bird leaves the nest and jumps onto the perch 27, the structure will take the position shown in Fig. 1..

The front'wall 10 is shown provided with a door opening 31, and at the top thereof, the

metal is bent inwardly, as shown at 32, to form a stop for the door. I have indicated the door at 33, the same having trunnion hinge pintles 34L, projecting laterally therefrom. Strap or like hinge members 35, secured to wall 10, coact with said pintles to form a hinged connection. Now by reason V of the foregoing, the door 33, will always seek to open by gravity just as soon as it is free so to do. The door 33 is provided with means which may be a bent or offset portion 36, adapted for coa'ction with the outer end 37, of bar 28.

A trap lock is shown in the form of a retainer 38, which is pivoted at 39, and has a flange 40, adapted to engage one of the walls 26, of the nest box. hen the structure is not being used as a trap nest, the retainer 38 is held in an inoperative position by the simple expedient of an inwardly projecting portion 41 of wall 12. When it is desired to trap nest, the retainer is sprung over said stop 41 and allowed to descend toward the wall 26, with the nest box in the Fig. 1, position. After the bird gets into the nest and the latter defor removal of the eggs.

The operation will be clear from the fore-' going but maybe brieflyrecapitulated as follows:

In the'Fig. 1, position, the bird is free to enter theopening 31 and advance along the door 28, and hop onto the perch 27, andthe nce into the nest box. The weight of the door 33,

on bar 28, holds the nest structure tilted as shown in Fig. 1. However-just as soon as the bird gets into the nest box/the added Weight tilts th'e'box to the Fig. 2, position, the bar 28,

elevatingthe hinged door 33. into a closing pobe seen that I make the door perform the dual function of a closure for the opening 31 and a runway for the bird to wall: on n advancing toward or leavingthe nest box.

It will thus be seen that the parts move by gravity in all respects and that the nest box may readily be removed through the door 19, or out through the bottom of the base, which is open. Portions of the walls, top and'th'e door 33, may be perforated for affording proper ventilation, as experience may dictate, I

and other changes of refinementand mechanlcal skill may be'made without altering the spirit of the invention.

While I provide a stop to lilnittilting movement of the nest structure when the door is open, it will be noted'that Whenthe structure closes the door, the means 36, withwhich the bar end 37, coacts, functions as astop'.

The operation of the structure as regards trap nesting will have been understood from the foregoing description of that feature.

It is believed'that the device of my invention will be fully understood from the foregoing description, and'while I have herein shown one specific form of my invention, I do not wish to be limited thereto except for such limitations as the claims may import.

I claim: v

1. In a nest structure, a housing'having a door opening in the front wall'thereof for ingress and egress of the bird, said housing being normally otherwise closed to ingress or egress of a bird, a nest box rearwardly from said opening and provided on its forward end I with a perch and having a forwardly extend-' ing door operating bar, means fulcrumly supporting said nest box sufficiently rear'wardly of said perch to cause the weight of the bird thereon to elevate said box and lower-said bar and the weight of the bird'causing said box to descend when sitting on said box, and a door for said opening hinged to swing inwardly and downwardly by gravity onto said bar to form a runway for the bird to walk from said opening toward said'perch and box and from said box and through said opening. 7

2. In a nest structure, a housing having a door opening in its front wall foringress and egress of the bird,said housing beingnornially otherwise closed toingress-or egress of a bird, a nest box fulcrumed in said housing'to normally descend therein and having a door actuating bar projecting forwardly therefrom,

a door for said opening hinged toopen by gravity down onto said bar and form a run way for the bird to walk to and from said nest box and acting to tilt said nest box upwardly, said door having means for engagement by said bar to close said door when the bird enters and tilts said nest box downwardly.

3. In a nest structure, a housing having a door opening in its front wall for ingress and egress of the bird and said housing being 0th? erwise normally closed to ingress or egress of a bird, a nest box fulcrumed in said housing to normally descend under its own weight and having a door actuating bar projecting forwardly therefrom, a door for said opening hinged to openby gravity downonto said bar to form a runway and acting to tilt said nest box upwardly, said door having means for engagement by said bar for closing and holding said door closed when and after the bird enters said nest box, and means automatically locking said nest box in a descended and door locking position to confinethe bird in the nest. I I In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I hereby aflix my signature.

' CHARLES M. SHILLIAM. 

